Question on Holtz for Arkansas fans

Its crazy, Arkansas had Holtz and Sutton at the same time

Yes, not recruiting in-state kids was part of it. But, (according to rumors) he was despised by Arkansas HS coaches because he totally disrespected them.

One highly recruited player that left was Keith Jackson for Oklahoma.

That angered many fans and he also was on the Johnny Carson show, he said Fayetteville isn't the end of the world but you can see it from here. That didn't go well with many fans and his association with Jesse Helms caused the school to tell him to keep his distance from which he ignored.

He pretty much was burned out.

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he totally disrespected them.

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He spit on them when he talked, didn't he?

In fairness, he spat on everyone he spoke to...

The lack of recruiting in state talent and comments did not endear him to the state.

What sealed the deal, however, was campaigning for Jesse Helms. It wasn't just Helms leading the fight against MLK Jr. day, though I am hard pressed to think of something back then that would have driven away young Black athletes faster than that. Rather it was that Holtz doing such an action heavily implied that the University of Arkansas was endorsing Helms.

People have a hard time remembering just how much raw political power Broyles effectively wielded in Arkansas back then. Bill Clinton called Broyles the most powerful man in the state for a reason. Broyles, and before him Barnhill, had built a system based one state, one football team.

You didn't comment on political issues because it might offend a group in state, you took your smiling pictures with the Governor, and that was that. To make matters worse, Helms was a devoted Republican. As hard as it is to believe now back then the Republican party in Arkansas was so small it was joked they had their state convention at a corner booth in Denny's. Democrats controlled everything, and I do mean everything.

Holtz didn't just touch the third rail of Arkansas politics, he took a giant whiz on it.

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The lack of recruiting in state talent and comments did not endear him to the state.

What sealed the deal, however, was campaigning for Jesse Helms. It wasn't just Helms leading the fight against MLK Jr. day, though I am hard pressed to think of something back then that would have driven away young Black athletes faster than that. Rather it was that Holtz doing such an action heavily implied that the University of Arkansas was endorsing Helms.

People have a hard time remembering just how much raw political power Broyles effectively wielded in Arkansas back then. Bill Clinton called Broyles the most powerful man in the state for a reason. Broyles, and before him Barnhill, had built a system based one state, one football team.

You didn't comment on political issues because it might offend a group in state, you took your smiling pictures with the Governor, and that was that. To make matters worse, Helms was a devoted Republican. As hard as it is to believe now back then the Republican party in Arkansas was so small it was joked they had their state convention at a corner booth in Denny's. Democrats controlled everything, and I do mean everything.

Holtz didn't just touch the third rail of Arkansas politics, he took a giant whiz on it.


Nailed it

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All of that is entirely true and a very good contextual account.

But to simplify it a bit, Holtz went on the Johnny Carson show and made the statement, "Fayetteville Arkansas is not the end of the world, but you can sure see it from there." My late father had 2 degrees from Arkansas and was a loyal Hog fan and Lou Holtz fan. When that comment came out of his mouth, my dad had no use for that lisping midget ever again. He insulted my father's home state and his alma mater. Dad was glad to see him go.

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if Jimmy Johnson had gotten the Arkansas job in 1977


Johnson was barely over .500 (29-25) in four seasons at Okie State in a league that was similar to the SWC. At that time, OU and Nebraska controlled the Big 8 while Texas (before Pony Excess) ruled the SWC. His Big 8 record was under .500 and he somehow kept a functionally illiterate Dexter Manley academically eligible. He had success at Miami because he was able to get Florida recruits (Michael Irvin, Jerome Brown, Benny Blades, etc) who would have never played in Fayetteville.

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Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think Jimmy was in the picture when Holtz was hired. Wasn't Jimmy at OK St when Holtz left, and he was a finalist to replace Holtz? As I recall, he found out that JFB had already privately offered Kenny Hatfield because he was squeaky clean, and he gave Jimmy a "courtesy" interview at Herman's Rib House.

Jimmy J wanted the job, and Holtz got it instead



Jimmy was DC at Oklahoma at that time I think

1977


Then Broyles hired Kenny Hatfield over JJ in 1983

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But to simplify it a bit, Holtz went on the Johnny Carson show and made the statement, "Fayetteville Arkansas is not the end of the world, but you can sure see it from there." My late father had 2 degrees from Arkansas and was a loyal Hog fan and Lou Holtz fan. When that comment came out of his mouth, my dad had no use for that lisping midget ever again. He insulted my father's home state and his alma mater. Dad was glad to see him go.

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Holtz went out of his way to piss on Arkansas. When he got fired it wasn't why, but why not sooner? The sad thing is... if he had kept his mouth shut and stayed he could have won a national title or two at Arkansas in that time period. He just couldn't help himself.